Have you ever looked at something that seemed way past saving, only to realize it had more value than you first thought?
Maybe it’s an old car sitting in a field, a dream you tucked away years ago, or it’s been you all along.
Here’s the good news: God doesn’t just fix what’s broken. He brings brand-new life out of what looked lost. Not a polished-up version of the past, but a true reset from the inside out.
And that kind of transformation? It’s available right now. Not after you’ve figured it all out. Not after you’ve “cleaned up your act.” Today. As you are.
At Faith Church, we recently celebrated a powerful baptism weekend—where 279 people made the decision to say yes to new life in Christ.
It wasn’t just symbolic. It was supernatural. Baptism is more than a moment. It’s a marker.
A bold, public declaration: “The old me is gone. The new me has risen.”
We call it what it is: From rust to redemption. This step isn’t about joining a club or checking a religious box. It’s about stepping into the life God’s already made available for you.
The kind of life where scars don’t disqualify you—they testify that God heals. Where the shame of yesterday gets buried and the hope of tomorrow begins to rise.
Still wondering if you’re ready?
Truth is, none of us were. Romans 5:8 says it best: “Even while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Not after we cleaned up. Not when we felt holy enough. Right in the middle of our mess.
You’re Not Broken—You’re Priceless
Let’s talk about that rust for a second. Rust shows up when something valuable is exposed to the wrong conditions for too long. Maybe that’s been your life lately.
Disappointments stacking up, mistakes that you thought were behind you… voices that told you you’d already peaked
And little by little… the shine wore off.
But God?
He doesn’t pass you by like everyone else. He stops. He leans in. He says, “This one… this one’s mine.”
Just like that old Jeep sitting in a field, you’re not junk. You’re not forgotten. You’re priceless to the One who made you.
Baptism: A Fresh Start
Baptism isn’t about making yourself worthy. It’s about receiving the worth God already placed inside you.
Let’s make it plain: Have you ever tried to clean up before taking a shower? Of course not. That would be silly.
Baptism is that spiritual shower. God does the cleaning. We don’t get right to get baptized.
We get baptized because God is already making us right. It’s how we bury the old shame, fear, guilt, and regret—so we can rise in freedom and new identity.
2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
We’re not duct-taping the past anymore. We’re leaving it behind.
From Forgotten to Front Row
There’s a story in the Bible about Ruth. Widowed. Poor. A foreigner. By all accounts—forgotten.
But Boaz stepped in. He didn’t see lack. He saw value. He redeemed her, restored her, and changed the trajectory of her life. Because of that one act, Ruth became part of the lineage that led to Jesus Himself.
You might feel like Ruth today—like your name’s been scratched off the list. But God never took His eyes off you. And He’s not finished. The rust doesn’t scare Him. He sees the redemption already written into your story. And He’s calling you forward.
Stop Circling the Decision
Max Lucado once said, “Baptism separates the tire-kickers from the car buyers.”
Translation?
There comes a time when we stop circling and start stepping. Don’t wait until you feel qualified.
Don’t wait for a “perfect moment.” Don’t wait for your past to make sense. Baptism is for people ready to step into a brand-new future.
Whether that happens today, next Sunday, or at the next opportunity—what matters most is the decision to say yes.
- Yes to grace.
- Yes to growth.
- Yes to being made new.
God Doesn’t Buff You Up—He Makes You New
You aren’t some dusty project getting a polish. God’s doing a full restoration—inside and out.
He’s not patching holes. He’s rebuilding purpose. He’s not reminding you of who you were. He’s revealing who you’ve always been in Him.
Romans 6:4 puts it this way: “We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead… we too may live a new life.”
So what are we waiting for?
You Were Made for the Open Road
Remember that Jeep from earlier? It wasn’t restored to sit in a garage and gather dust. It was made to drive. To go places. To turn heads. To fulfill its purpose.
And so are you.
You weren’t restored to stay stuck. You were restored to shine.
You were made to live with purpose, freedom, joy, and boldness.
But that new journey starts with a step.
What’s Stopping You?
We get it. It feels big. Maybe you didn’t plan for today to be the day. Maybe you’re thinking, “But I messed up too much,” or “I’m not spiritual enough.”
Friend, that’s the old script talking.
God isn’t looking for perfection. He’s looking for permission.
Your permission to step in. To restore. To redeem. To rewrite your story from the inside out. Today, your past loses its power. Today, your future gets unlocked. Today, your life starts driving again.
Will you take that step?
Today is the perfect day to leave the rust behind.
If you’re ready to be made new, don’t wait. Step out, take the plunge, and walk forward into your redemption story.
We’re cheering you on every step of the way. Your future is too valuable to leave it parked.